Freelance Unlocked: Helping Creatives Work Different

In today's episode, I'm sharing a major life update: I'm going in-house! I'm stepping back from freelancing for a season to focus on a super exciting opportunity to work full-time for one of my clients. We'll cover what this means for Freelance Unlocked, what I've learned through this unexpected process, and advice for freelancers no matter where you're at on your journey. This podcast, our in-person events, and new content overall will be on HOLD for the foreseeable future as I reflect on what's next and adjust to my new role. In the meantime, you can access HOURS of free trainings and tons of helpful templates for FREE in the Freelance Freebie Library. Check it out here: https://www.freelanceunlocked.co/freebie-library

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, host Haley Davidson interviews Jamie Brene Joubert, a freelance graphic designer and Freelance Unlocked’s Atlanta community lead. Jamie shares her journey from corporate marketing to freelancing, the highs and lows of her first year, and the importance of community and networking.  They discuss Jamie's favorite projects, the challenges of consistency, and exciting plans for 2025.  00:34 Beginnings and Freelance Journey  05:08 Challenges and Highs of 2024  09:32 Networking and Building a Clientele  20:54 Freelance Flow and Community Support  24:45 2025 Goals and Personal Insights  About Jamie Joubert  Jamie Joubert is the creative mind behind JBJ Enterprise! She specializes in helping bold businesses shine with fun, vibrant, and custom designs that bring their unique brand to life. From graphics to websites to branding, Jamie turns ideas into designs that leave an unforgettable impression. Follow Jamie on Instagram and learn more about her graphic design work here. Connect with Freelance Unlocked  Follow us on Instagram for more freelance tips and stories!  Unlock the Freelance Freebie library for a freelancing masterclass and more.  Join Freelance Flow, our online membership community for freelancers! — Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/traveler License code: R26U3EOLCL8TJFJG 

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, host Haley Davidson chats with SEO and content marketing expert Amanda Johnson about her journey from corporate to freelancing, and then back to consulting after layoffs. Amanda shares insights on navigating freelancing as a parent, setting boundaries, the importance of networking, charging what you're worth, and maintaining strong systems. 04:50 Amanda's Background and Career Journey 15:01 Building Client Relationships 20:42 Freelancing After A Layoff 34:59 Balancing Work and Parenting During the Pandemic 40:30 Navigating Client Relationships and Pricing 45:28 The Power of Confidence and Communication 01:00:11 The Role of Systems in a Freelance Business About Amanda Johnson: Amanda has worked in content marketing for nearly a decade, both on in-house teams as well as running her own business as a freelance content marketing consultant. Her people- and topical-authority centered approach to SEO produces real results, including going from 3-figure organic clicks to 6-figure organic clicks in 18 months and directly competing with some of the highest authority sites on the web. You can connect with Amanda on LinkedIn, check out her portfolio here, or explore her newsletter about human experience strategy. Connect with Freelance Unlocked online: ⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠ for more freelance tips and stories!  ⁠Unlock the Freelance Freebie library ⁠for a freelancing masterclass and more.  ⁠Join Freelance Flow,⁠ our online membership community for freelancers! ⁠Learn more about the Many Hats Live conference⁠ for creative solopreneurs.

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, Haley Davidson reflects on her freelancing journey through 2024 and sets her intentions for 2025. We discuss how to overcome discomfort, push past fears, and stay connected to your vision and intuition through the ups and downs of freelancing. 00:34 - Reflecting on 2024 and Welcoming 2025 04:31 - Learning to embrace change and new opportunities 06:19 - Overcoming fear and asking for more 12:03 - How to stay grounded and connected during big shifts Connect with us online! Follow us on Instagram for more freelance tips and stories! Unlock the Freelance Freebie library for a freelancing masterclass and more. Join Freelance Flow, our online membership community for freelancers! Learn more about the Many Hats Live conference for creative solopreneurs.

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, host Haley Davidson addresses a common question from freelancers: 'Should I lower my prices?' Haley shares strategies for determining if your prices are too high, offering advice on getting direct feedback from clients before making price adjustments. She emphasizes the importance of clear communication and active follow-up with clients to close proposals. Haley also discusses the benefits of joining the Freelance Flow membership, which provides resources and a supportive community to help freelancers succeed. 02:45 Addressing Pricing Concerns 04:52 Effective Communication Techniques 05:59 Follow-Up and Feedback 07:07 Special Deals and Closing Clients Connect with Freelance Unlocked: ⁠Follow Haley on Instagram⁠⁠ for freelance tips and advice Join the Freelance Flow membership Join the FREE freelance mindset reset⁠⁠, a 5-day audio program to help you strengthen your mindset and take action Learn about ⁠upcoming events in-person in Atlanta and online⁠ 

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, host Haley Davidson delves into the concept of true success and how it's often misunderstood. Highlighting her journey from a corporate marketing job to a thriving freelance career, Haley emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and learning to thrive in instability. She provides insights on building routines, staying grounded, and leveraging change as an opportunity for growth. Haley also introduces upcoming events and the power of community, particularly through her Freelance Fridays routine, to help freelancers navigate the ups and downs of their journey. Whether you're a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice on mastering the rollercoaster of freelancing. 02:50 Embracing the Freelance Rollercoaster 13:58 Reframing Challenges as Opportunities 19:27 Understanding the Craving for Stability 20:19 Creating Inner Peace Amidst Chaos 21:24 Tools for Thriving in Uncertainty 26:26 The Power of Community and Routine 35:47 Embracing the Freelance Rollercoaster Connect with Freelance Unlocked: ⁠Follow Haley on Instagram⁠⁠ for freelance tips and advice 📲 Join the Freelance Flow membership Join the FREE freelance mindset reset⁠⁠, a 5-day audio program to help you strengthen your mindset and take action 🧠 Learn about ⁠upcoming events in-person in Atlanta and online⁠ 📆

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, we welcome Jasmine Jones, founder of the Organized Collective, an operations and project management agency based in Atlanta. She shares her journey from balancing a full-time corporate job to embracing full-time freelancing through strategic contract work.  In this episode, you'll also learn about the intricacies of setting boundaries, managing multiple clients, and the importance of having efficient systems and processes in place. Key insights include the importance of over-communicating, documenting your processes, and setting realistic client expectations for a fluid and stress-free freelancing experience. In this episode: 01:32 Landing the first freelance client while having a 9-5 04:51 Transitioning to full-time freelancing 10:10 Setting boundaries and managing client expectations 13:03 Navigating hourly vs. deliverable-based contracts 28:02 Finding solutions for entrepreneurial anxiety 31:37 The importance of community and resources 35:15 Streamlining client onboarding and workflow 49:39 The value of proper onboarding and delegation 52:52 Special offer for Haley's listeners About Jasmine Jones: Jasmine is an Operations Consultant based in Atlanta, GA and the Founder of The Organized Collective. Her goal is to work with business owners and agencies as an extension of their team to eliminate chaos and improve productivity so they can stop being overwhelmed and missing deadlines. You can connect with Jasmine on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and learn more about Organized Collective on her website. Don't forget that she's offering $200 strategy sessions for listeners of the podcast. ⁠You can book your special offer here⁠! Connect with Freelance Unlocked: ⁠Follow Haley on Instagram⁠⁠ for freelance tips and advice 📲  ⁠⁠Join the FREE freelance mindset reset⁠⁠, a 5-day audio program to help you strengthen your mindset and take action 🧠 ✨ Learn about ⁠upcoming events in-person in Atlanta and online⁠ 📆

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Whitney Gallos, the founder of Words with Whitney. She shares her inspiring freelance journey, from starting as a corporate employee to becoming a successful website copywriter and blog writer for small businesses. In this episode, you'll also learn about effective time management strategies, including the Pomodoro technique and time blocking. Plus, you'll hear me and Whitney discuss our daily freelance routines, the project management tools we love (and hate), and how we stay creative and motivated while working from home. In this episode: 07:21 Transitioning to Full-Time Freelancing 09:48 Balancing Life and Freelancing 19:16 Finding Clients and Building Genuine Client Relationships 29:08 Time Management Strategies 33:14 Managing Creativity and Deadlines 40:50 Effective Use of Project Management Tools 46:37 Setting Boundaries for Better Work-Life Balance About Whitney Gallos: Whitney is the heart behind Words with Whitney, a warm and welcoming copywriting agency dedicated to making entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized businesses make their clients feel right at home online. She loves transforming ideas into words that invite and connect, creating engaging blog posts, friendly email newsletters, and inviting website copy. Her goal is to give her client's brand a voice that truly resonates, helping them attract their dream clients and grow their business with genuine connections. When she's not crafting heartfelt content, she's cozying up with a good book or spending time with her family. You can connect with Whitney on Instagram and learn more about Words with Whitney on her website. Join the Freelance Momentum Challenge to beat the cash flow crunch, reach your financial goals, and close your next client faster! Sign up now.

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast (recorded during a recent Instagram live), I had the pleasure of chatting with Delaney Rietveld, the founder of Dark Roast Copy Co., a seasoned freelance copywriter and Upwork Vetted Expert. She explained EVERYTHING new and experienced freelancers need to know about Upwork—from how to get your first job on Upwork, to the pros and cons of using Upwork. Delaney shares her journey from leaving a 9-to-5 job during the pandemic to becoming a successful niche copywriter through Upwork. Our conversation included practical tips for new freelancers on Upwork, the importance of specialized profiles, and the power of personalized cover letters. Delaney also shared the challenges that can come with using Upwork, and how to address them—including who to set clear client expectations to secure quality, high-paying clients. If you're looking to build and expand your business through Upwork, this episode of the Freelance Unlocked podcast is perfect for you. In this episode: 11:47 How Upwork works 25:51 How to build an awesome Upwork profile 26:10 How to get your first Upwork jobs and reviews 31:16 Is Upwork right for beginners? 33:10 Is Upwork too saturated? 36:25 Pricing and client boundaries About Delaney Rietveld Delaney is the conversational copywriter behind Dark Roast Copy Co.—a brand that helps ambitious entrepreneurs craft website copy that sells their services with empathy. She's been on Upwork since day one of her freelancing journey and has grown most of her copywriting business on the platform. As an Upwork Expert Vetted Freelancer, she’s in the top 1% of the 12 million freelancers on Upwork. You can connect with Delaney on Instagram and learn more about Dark Roast Copy Co. here. Connect with Haley + the Freelance Unlocked community: ⁠Follow Haley on Instagram⁠ for freelance tips and advice 📲 ⁠Join the FREE freelance mindset reset⁠, a 5-day audio program to help you strengthen your mindset and take action 🧠 ✨

In this episode of the Freelance Unlocked Podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Amy VanStee, VP of Content and Marketing at Expressable, a health tech startup and online speech therapy platform. In this episode, you'll learn how healthcare systems, health tech startups, and other companies in the healthcare industry work with freelancers. From patient education videos to SEO-optimized blog posts, the healthcare industry has a huge need for content—and as a result, a huge need for talented freelance marketers, creatives, and writers. Whether you're a creative that's passionate about health and wellness or a clinician who wants to start a freelance writing side hustle, Amy is breaking down everything you need to get hired—and thrive—as a freelancer in the healthcare industry. In this episode: 03:08 - Different types of freelance opportunities in the healthcare industry 12:11 - What skills do freelancers need to succeed in the healthcare industry? 24:24 - Opportunities for clinicians who want to use their expertise as freelance writers, creatives, etc. 30:01 - How to find clients and freelance opportunities in the healthcare space 41:58 - Mistakes to avoid as a freelancer in healthcare 46:04 - The role of AI and why healthcare will always need human creatives to create great content About Amy VanStee: Amy has more than 20 years of experience producing content that resonates, motivates, and inspires. As a lifelong writer and editor with a career spanning internal communications, academic publishing, educational content, and content marketing, she brings the best of these worlds together to create content that gets results. Amy’s career has largely centered on healthcare marketing and patient education. Her current role is VP of Content, leading content strategy and development at Expressable, a national speech therapy provider. Amy loves living in Chicago with her family but is always plotting her next travel destination. You can connect with Amy on LinkedIn here and learn more about Expressable's innovative online speech therapy platform here. Connect with Haley + the Freelance Unlocked community:  ⁠⁠⁠Follow Haley on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ for freelance tips and advice 📲  ⁠⁠⁠Join the FREE freelance mindset reset⁠⁠⁠, a 5-day audio program to help you strengthen your mindset and take action 🧠 ✨